Outdoor Discovery Center Playgroup

Join us on Monday, May 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  for a playgroup at the Outdoor Discovery Center. There will be lots of Spring Activities including trails to walk, sandboxes to play in, animals, bubbles, crafts, a snack and much more!

The Outdoor Discovery Center is located at A-4214 56th Street, Holland, MI  49423. Feel free to check out their website for all the programs they offer:
www.outdoordiscoverycenter.org/

You are welcome to bring a picnic lunch for your children and stay after the group for lunch. There is a large shaded area with tables.

FREE Event and no need to register ahead. Weather permitting. In case of rain playgroup is canceled.

Day of the Young Child

Join us tomorrow for Day of the Young Child in Downtown Zeeland!

FREE Event!

Cityside Middle School/Downtown Zeeland 
Saturday, April 16th, 2011
10am-1:30pm

 Indoor Activites:
Bead Necklaces
Bucket Bonanza
Coffee Filter
Dot Art
Face Painting
Foam Visors
Playdough
Scratch Art
Stamp Bags

Outdoor Activities:
• Ambulance
• Boat
• Bucket Truck
• Dump truck
• Fire Truck
• Flat Bed Truck
• Golf Cart
• Hearse
• Military Vehicles
• Pulling Vehicles
• Race Cars
• Rescue Truck
• School Bus
• Z-Bus

Nurturing Empathy in Toddlers

Empathy is the ability to imagine how someone else is feeling in a particular situation and respond with care. This is a very complex skill to develop but it is an important building block in your child’s social development.
What you can do:

• Empathize with your child:  “Are you feeling scared of that dog? He is a nice dog but he is barking really loud. That can be scary.”
• Talk about others’ feelings. “Kayla is feeling sad because you took her toy car. Please give Kayla back her car and then you choose another.”
• Be a role model. When you have strong, respectful relationships and interact with others in a kind and
   caring way, your child learns from your example.
• Validate your child’s difficult emotions. Sometimes when our child is sad, angry, or disappointed, we rush to try and fix it right away, to make the feelings go away because we want to protect him from any pain. However, these feelings are part of life and ones that children need to learn to cope with. In fact, labeling and validating difficult feelings actually helps children learn to handle them.
• Think through the use of “I’m sorry.” We often insist that our toddlers say “I’m sorry” as a way for them to take responsibility for their actions. But many toddlers don’t fully understand what these words mean. While it may feel “right” for them to say “I’m sorry”, it doesn’t necessarily help toddlers learn empathy.  A more meaningful approach can be to help children focus on the other person’s feelings: “Chandra, look at Sierra—she’s very sad.  She’s crying.  She’s rubbing her arm where you pushed her. Let’s see if she is okay.” This helps children make the connection between the action (shoving) and the reaction (a friend who is sad and crying). 
• Be patient. Developing empathy takes time. Remember, empathy is a complex skill and will continue to develop across your child’s life.

*Article taken from  http://www.zerotothree.org/

Challenge of Children Conference

Challenge of Children is a FREE conference for parents, grandparents and caregivers.

Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 9:15-3:00 p.m.
Hope College Campus. Holland

Nurturing the Hearts & Brains of Children: Igniting GreatnessBy Annie Lange, BSN, LMSW, ACSW
The challenges facing parents, teachers and children in a world of information overload, and limited financial, social emotional resources are tremendous. This stress can often be expressed in unhealthy acting out behavior. Join us explore the hope of healing through concepts related to neurobiology, attachment theory, mindfulness, and the Nurtured pproach model. Annie will share with humor and authenticity how understanding and implementing these concepts her from hopelessness to joy and possibility both personally and professionally.

For more information and to register online visit:

http://www.challengeofchildren.org/

Upcoming Parenting Presentations

March is Parent Awareness Month and April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. To celebrate these months, the Stop Child Abuse and Neglect Council is sponsoring a parent series called "Parenting is for a Lifetime."
During this time they will be offering the following parenting classes/presentations:

Thursday, March 10, 2011: Money Management
Presentation by: Love, INC of Allendale
Location: Love, INC of Allendale 11620 – 60th Avenue, Allendale, MI 49401
Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Learn tips on stretching a dollar, saving money, developing a plan and making a family budget.
RSVP to Love, INC of Allendale: (616) 895-5683

Thursday, March 31, 2011: Raising Culturally Aware Youth
Presentation by: Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance.
Location: Second Reformed Church of Zeeland 225 East Central Ave, Zeeland, MI 49464
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Explore how unconscious assumptions can influence the way we interact with people and how that influences our youth.
RSVP to jleeson@pathwaysmi.org

Thursday, April 28, 2011: Darkness to Light
Presentation by: The Children’s Advocacy Center
Location: Hudsonville Reformed Church 3950 Highland Drive, Hudsonville
Time: 6pm to 8:30pm
Learn 7 steps to protecting your children. Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children is the only adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention program proven effective in increasing knowledge, improving attitudes and changing how we protect children from sexual abuse.
RSVP to Amy Dalman at adalman@cac-ottawa.org

Preparing for Preschool and Kindergarten

Are you planning to send your child to preschool or Kindergarten in the fall? If so, you may want to begin preparing early for the big adventure!

Physicals-Immunizations

Your child will need a physical and have all immunizations up to date.

Hearing & Vision Screening

Schools require that children entering Kindergarten are tested for Hearing and Vision. Sometimes this can be done by your physician but if not the Ottawa County Health Dept offers this service free of charge. Appointments are required. Call the following numbers to set up a time:

Grand Haven ...........................................(616) 846-8360

Holland ................................................... (616) 396-5266

Hudsonville ..............................................(616) 669-0040

Birth Certificate

In order to register, you will need a copy of your child’s birth certificate. If you do not have one, contact your local County Clerk.

Prepare Your Child

· Begin reading books about school, who they will meet, what happens, how they might be feeling

· Take time to visit the school (this spring) through an open house or making an
appointment with a current teacher

· Some districts offer a school bus ride with mom and dad shortly before school starts

· Work with your child on numbers, letters, taking turns,
using scissors, etc.

Book List

Books can teach so much in certain situations when parents don't have the right words. Here is a list of books that are helpful for certain emotional times during a child's preschool years:

Fears
Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Webster
There's a Nightmare in my Closet by Mercer Mayer
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
There's An Alligator Under My Bed by Mercer Mayer
Will I have a Friend by Cohen, M
If You Listen by Charlotte Zolotow (Loneliness)
We'll Paint the Octopus Red by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Anger/Loss
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
I Miss You Everyday by Simms Taback
When Sophie Gets Angry, Really Really Angry by Molly Bang
The Hating Book by Charlotte Zolotow
The Temper Tantrum Book by Preston, EM
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst
Are You My Mother by PD Eastman (Parental Loss)
Its Not Your Fault, Koko Bear by Vicki Lansky (Divorce)
The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown
If You're Angry and You Know It by Cecily Kaiser

Friendship/Forgiveness/Bullying
The White Marble by Charlotte Zolotow
Homemade Love by Bell Hooks
Stop Picking on Me by Pat Thomas

Security, Love, Self Esteem
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes
My Love For You by Sharon Roth
Willie's Not the Hugging Kind by Joyce Barrett
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Ten, Nine, Eight by Molly Bang
Goodbye Daddy by Brigitte Weninger
Timothy Too by Charlotte Zolotow
I Like Me by Nancy Carlson

Uniqueness/Diversity
Many Colored Days by Dr Seuss
The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown
Allie the Allergic Elephant: A Children's Story about Peanut Allegies by Nicole Smith
Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English by Alma Flor Ada
Everybody Cooks Rice by Nora Dooley
Family by Isabell Monk (African American)
How Smudge Came by Nan Gregory (Down's Syndrome)
My Sister is Different by Betty Wright (Mental Retardation)
Lisa and Her Soundless World by Edna Levine (Hearing Impairment)
Its OK to be Different by Todd Parr
Things That Make you Feel Good, Things that Make You Feel Bad by Todd Parr